Terminology
A
AMPERE (AMP): A unit of electrical current
APERTURE: An opening (such as in a pipe)
ASBESTOS: A naturally occurring silicate mineral. Historically it was used in building materials, however it is a health risk if inhaled. Professional abatement is suggested
AWNING WINDOWS: A window with hinges at the top, typically for openings where the width is greater than the height
B
BASEBOARD: A board, usually wood or vinyl, that covers the lowest part of an interior wall
BASEBOARD HEAT: A ductless heating system, either electric or hot water, that runs along the base of the wall
BREAKER PANEL: A box containing he main distribution point for electrical circuits in your home
BUILDING CODE: The local, state and federal regulations that pertain to building design, construction, repairs, materials, etc. in order to protect public health and safety
BUCKLING: The warping of a building material, such as flooring, as a result of uneven contact with moisture
C
CASEMENT WINDOWS: A window with hinges on the side that allows it to open out from the window frame
CAULKING: Material and process used to fill joint, seams, gaps and cracks in a variety of building materials
CIRCUIT BREAKER: A safety switch for electrical systems that will automatically cut a circuit when an unusual condition, such as a lightning strike or malfunctioning appliance, arises
CLASS B DOOR: A door with a UL fire resistance rating of 90 minutes
CPVC: PVC piping that has been chlorinated to make it more flexible and able to withstand a greater temperature range, making it ideal for carrying potable water
CRAWL SPACE: An area with limited space either under a house or a roof to give access to wiring and plumbing
CUT-OFF VALVES: A device that will restrict or stop the flow of water in the home without stopping flow to the entire house; generally located at the point of use, such as underneath a sink
D
DAMPER: A simple device inside your air duct that direct air flow to different areas of your home
DISPOSER: An electric food grinder located before your drain that chops waste to allow disposal through your plumbing without clogging
DORMER: A roofed structure containing a window that protrudes beyond the sloped roofline
DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW: A window in which both sashes move and tilt so windows can be opened from the bottom or top
DRYWALL: A type of board used on the interior walls of homes made of gypsum
DUCTWORK: A network of ducts used to carry air through the home
E
EAVES: The potion of roof that meets or overhangs the walls of a house
EXHAUST FAN: Vents interior by extracting excess heat or moisture and expelling it outside
F
FLASHING: Sheet metal used to prevent water entry around roof junctions and chimneys
FLUE: A duct for smoke and waste gases produced by a fire or other fueling burning installations such as fireplaces
FOOTINGS: Support for the foundation of a structure, commonly concrete and rebar poured into an excavated hole or trench
FORCED AIR FURNACE: A unit that produces heat and transfers it through air, which is then circulated through the home
FOUNDATION: The base part of the structure upon which all the construction is built
FUSE BOX: A box which contains the home’s fuses which regulate electrical current in the house
G
GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER (GFI): A safety device that protects from electrical shock by quickly breaking a circuit
GUTTER/DOWNSPOUT: A trough attached to the eave to direct water away from the foundation of a home
H
HEARTH: The fireproof floor of a fireplace or area in front of it
HEAT EXCHANGER: A series of tubes or coils in a furnace that heat the breathing air in a furnace
HEAT PUMP: A reverse cycle refrigeration unit that both heats and cools.
HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM: A boiler and pump system that send heated water through a series of pipes to heat the home
HVAC: Heating, ventilating and air conditioning system
I
INSULATION: Material such as fiberglass, cellulose and foam placed strategically in the home to reduce energy loss
J
JOISTS: Parallel horizontal timber or steel beams that support a floor or ceiling
L
LATHING: Slats of narrow wood used under plaster as the base for mainly interior walls
LEAD: A hazardous material potentially found in older homes in pipes or paint. The local environmental protection agency should be contacted about applicable laws, handling and disposing
M
MASONRY: Stonework, brickwork, or other construction using similar materials
MEMBER: Parts of the framing and foundation of a structure such as studs or wall plates
MORTAR: A workable paste mixture used to bond brick or stone
MOLDING: Decorative strip of material used to cover joints between surfaces such as floors and walls
P
PARAPET WALL: A low protective barrier along the edge of a roof, bridge or balcony
PARQUET FLOORS: A mosaic of geometric wood pieces to create a decorative floor covering
POINTING UP: The removal and replacement of mortar between bricks
POLYBUTYLENE: An older form of water piping used for both interior piping and the main waterline to the street that often have problems with leaking or failure
R
R-VALUE: The capacity of insulation to resist heat flow. The greater the r-value, the greater the greater the resistance
RADIANT HEATING SYSTEM: A electric home heating system that supplies heat directly to the floor or to panels installed on the wall or ceiling
RADON: A colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can cause cancer with prolonged exposure. Homes should be tested for radon and the state radon office should be contacted regarding mitigation
RAFTER: Structural timbers or beams that support a roof, spanning from the exterior wall to the peak of the roof
REGISTERS: A grille with moving parts used to regulate the flow of air from a central HVAC system
RETAINING WALL: A vertical structure used to support a soil mass at two different levels on the two sides of the wall
S
SASH: The moveable framework that hold glass in a window or door
SETTLING: The gradual sinking of a home over time due to numerous factors
SHINGLE: A thin piece of building material used as a covering for roofs or other surfaces of the home
SIDING: Cladding material on the outside walls of a home such as aluminum, vinyl or wood
SILL: A shelf at the base of a window or doorway made of wood, stone or metal that is slanted downward
SLAB: A concrete foundation poured directly onto the earth that does not have a crawl space underneath
SOFFIT: Underside of the eaves of a roof
SOLAR HEAT: Passive or active heat created by gathering of solar energy, either through windows or a solar collector
SUMP PUMP: A pump used to remove water that has collected in the sump basin to the outside of a home
T
THERMOSTAT: A device that automatically regulates the temperature, usually having to do with an HVAC system
THRESHOLD: A strip of building material such as metal, wood or stone, located across the bottom of a doorway
U
UREA FORMALDEHYDE FOAM INSULATION: A type of expanding foam insulation that can emit formaldehyde gas, often found in homes built before the 1970’s.
W
WEATHER -STRIPPING: The sealing of gaps around windows, door and other openings to prevent loss of energy
WINDOW WELL: A open area maintained between a below grade window and the surrounding soil
Z
ZONE: A system to control the temperature for each area of a structure